Title: Packaging apparatus for compressible strips

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Abstract: Apparatus is provided for packaging strips of flexible, compressible material, such as layers of glass fibers. The compressible strip is wound under compression into a roll by the apparatus to provide a compact package. The compressed package can then be held in that state by tapes or the like which are automatically fed into contact with a trailing end portion of the compressible strip as it is being rolled up. The packaging apparatus includes a generally horizontal conveyor which carries the strip along a generally horizontal path. An upright, back-up belt conveyor is positioned to intercept the strip in its path and to deflect the forward edge of the strip upwardly away from the path. An infeed or guide roll helps to guide the forward edge of the strip toward the upright conveyor and a compression or tuck roll helps to turn the forward edge back downwardly after it is directed upwardly by the belt conveyor and to cause the strip to begin to roll into a spiral package. One side of the package then is contacted by an upwardly moving run of the conveyor belt and the other side of the package is contacted by the tuck roll which is driven in a manner to move the package in a direction opposite to the back-up conveyor. The tuck roll is also urged toward the backup conveyor so as to maintain compression on the strip as it is being rolled into the package. As the package is being completed, tape is dispensed on the horizontal conveyor and carried into contact with the trailing end of the strip and the outer wrap of the package so as to hold the strip in its packaged condition. At this time, the back-up conveyor is swung away from the horizontal conveyor and away from the path of the strip with the strip package then being ejected beyond the back-up conveyor where it can be transferred to a shipping point or processing station, by way of example. The packaging apparatus is also equipped with adjustments which enable it to accommodate strips of fibrous material of widely varying thicknesses.


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